Defining poverty can vary significantly based on different perspectives, methodologies, and contexts. As of my knowledge cut-off in October 2023, here are some of the ways in which poverty is typically defined and the new articles or perspectives that may shape the discourse:
### 1. **Income-Based Definitions**
**Traditional Measures**: Poverty has traditionally been defined by income levels, with thresholds set to determine who falls below a certain income level. For instance, the World Bank often uses international poverty lines such as $1.90, $3.20, and $5.50 per day, adjusted for purchasing power parity.
**Recent Updates**: Recent studies and articles emphasize updating these thresholds to reflect inflation and the changing cost of living. Many organizations are advocating for a more context-specific approach, where poverty lines are adjusted according to national or local circumstances.
### 2. **Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)**
**Expanding Indicators**: The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), pioneered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), includes various dimensions such as health, education, and living standards.
**Recent Additions**: New articles indicate a push towards incorporating more dimensions, such as access to digital technology and environmental factors. Researchers argue that these dimensions are becoming increasingly relevant in understanding modern poverty.
### 3. **Subjective Poverty**
**Perceived Well-being**: Subjective poverty considers individuals' own perceptions of their economic situation. People may be asked whether they feel they meet their daily needs or consider themselves poor.
**Advanced Survey Techniques**: Recent articles discuss the use of more nuanced survey methods and psychological indicators to better capture the lived experience of poverty.
### 4. **Capability Approach**
**Amartya Sen's Framework**: Amartya Sen's capability approach defines poverty by what people can or cannot do — their capabilities and opportunities in life, rather than solely income.
**Recent Research**: Articles have expanded this to include access to political and social capital, emphasizing how disempowerment and exclusion play into poverty.
### 5. **Social and Political Dimensions**
**Systemic Inequalities**: Many recent discourses point to structural issues and systemic inequalities contributing to poverty. This includes factors like socio-economic mobility, racial and gender disparities, and access to justice.
**Policy-based Articles**: Newspapers and journals have been publishing more about how systemic reforms in taxation, education, healthcare, and housing are critical in fighting poverty at its root.
### 6. **Climate-Induced Poverty**
**Environmental Context**: There's growing recognition of climate change as a driver of poverty. Articles highlight how climate-induced events such as floods, droughts, and hurricanes disproportionately affect the poor.
**Proposed Solutions**: Research is focusing on adaptive strategies and sustainable practices to mitigate these impacts. Environmental justice is a key theme merging with poverty definitions.
### 7. **Digital Divide**
**Tech Access and Literacy**: As the world becomes more digital, lack of access to technology and digital literacy is becoming an increasingly recognized aspect of poverty.
**Recent Developments**: Articles have started discussing how the digital divide exacerbates educational and economic inequalities, and some are proposing universal digital access as a basic need.
### References to Look Out For:
1. **Journal Articles**: Look for academic papers in journals like *World Development*, *Journal of Poverty*, and *Development and Change*.
2. **Think Tanks & NGOs**: Publications from think tanks such as the Brookings Institution, ODI, and NGOs like Oxfam or Save the Children often present fresh insights.
3. **Policy Papers**: Governmental and international bodies like the IMF, World Bank, and UN provide comprehensive reports that reflect recent changes and broader definitions of poverty.
### Conclusion
Understanding and defining poverty is a complex, evolving process that goes beyond mere income measures. It encompasses multiple dimensions like health, education, social inclusion, environmental factors, and access to technology. Keeping track of recent articles and studies is crucial for an up-to-date and comprehensive understanding of poverty.
New articles defining poverty
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